Results | Sydney Shield Finals Week 1
Elimination Final | East Campbelltown Eagles v Belrose Eagle
2016 Sydney Shield Premiers East Campbelltown Eagles ensured their premiership defence rolled on into Week 2 of the Finals series, downing the Belrose Eagles 40-16 in the first of four finals played at St Marys Leagues Stadium on Saturday (2 September) afternoon.
A hat-trick to Sydney Shield Team of the Year centre Ben Baker set the East Campbelltown side on their way, with Belrose no match for the determined red and whites.
East Campbelltown will play the loser of St Marys and Wentworthville in Week 2 of the Finals, while Belrose say goodbye to their title aspirations on the back of the 24-point loss.
East Campbelltown Eagles 40 (B Baker 3, E Connor, F Toutai, T Leato, B Lahey, A Soultan tries; B Baker 2, E Connor 2 goals) def Belrose Eagles 16 (C Buttrose 2, R Goodwin, A Layton tries)
Belrose Eagles are eliminated.
Elimination Final | Guildford Owls v Cabramatta RLFC
Lead by Sydney Shield Halfback of the Year Todd Sapienza at the helm of their attack, the Guildford Owls booked their place through to Week 2 of the finals, running out big 44-12 victors over Cabramatta in the sides' Elimination Final clash.
Named in the honourary side ahead of the finals clash, the boom half capped a fine week in style, crossing for a double and laying on a pair of tries for his outside men.
"(The off-field accolades are welcomed), but we just want to go all the way in this competition," Sapienza told NSWRL.com.au post-match.
"It was a good win after a pretty scratchy start, I think we just needed to get back to our basics and to complete our sets.
"We (defended) pretty well, it was just about attitude for us. We'll just take it week-by-week. We're pretty confident we can beat anyone on our day."
Guildford Owls 44 (T Shelley 2, A Dias, J Maree, T Sapienza, L Ngaluafe, M Soultan, T Moeakiola tries; T Sapienza 3 goals) Cabramatta RLFC 12 (T Simon, R Alo tries; P Dumont 2 goals). Cabramatta RLFC are eliminated.
